U. of Kentucky Faculty Leaders See 'False Crisis'

Faculty leaders at the University of Kentucky issued a letter Thursday to President Eli Capilouto charging that he has created a "false crisis" to justify budget shifts, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The letter acknowledges that the state has cut appropriations, but argues that only $20 million of a $43 million budget deficit can be attributed to those cuts. The rest of the cuts -- which have led to 140 layoffs -- were necessary because of the administration's budget priorities, the faculty letter said. Capilouto told the newspaper that he welcomes "constructive feedback."